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Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Character interview, Dawn Ireland, Highland Romance, Highland Yearning, time travel romance
Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Dawn Ireland, author of several award-winning novels set in Georgian England and the Highlands. ‘Highland Yearning’ part of the MacKay Saga won the Holt Reader’s Choice award this year in the time travel/paranormal division. Today Dawn is giving us a peek at a very different character interview. Welcome, Dawn!
Thanks, Catherine.
Highland Yearning was the first book I’d written that had a dog as a character. By the end of the story I fell in love with Scruffy, so I wrote the Epilogue from his point of view. This worked for me, but not my editor. (Alas, she was right. The book was stronger when I ended it from the heroine’s viewpoint.) That said, I think you should know a few things about Scruffy.
Today, I have Scruffy with me, one of the characters from my latest book.
Scruffy, you weren’t allowed to speak in Highland Yearning. (Barking doesn’t count.) So, I thought I’d learn about the story from your point of view.
Scruffy’s whole body moved with his wagging tail. “Finally, I get to tell what really happened.”
Did you know you were going to be sent back in time with Ariel?
He cocked his head. “No one ‘sent’ me back. I chose to go. A few days before we ended up in Scotland I was visited by one of the Ring of Belief’s witches. The witches are okay. This one, Elspeth, is beautiful by human standards. Unlike most humans, she had no trouble understanding me.
The witch asked, very politely, if I wanted to go back to 1775 with Ariel, or stay in this time. I told her I wanted to go back, Ariel needed me.” Scruffy raised his bushy eyebrows. “Actually, we needed each other.”
I had the feeling you weren’t over-fond of Caden, the hero in the story.
In spite of what some readers may believe, I am not jealous of the hero. Human women are always sighing over Caden, but I consider him an acquired taste. Oh, he’s big, and can hold his own in a fight with other humans, but his sense of smell is terrible. It’s a good thing he doesn’t lose Ariel on a regular basis. She loves him, so I have to make allowances.
A little bird told me you found your own ‘lassie’ in Scotland.
Birds talk too much. But yes, I met Ellie there. You won’t come across a finer West Highland Terrier this side of the Dornoch Firth. She likes to think she’s ‘domesticated’ me, but that’s only because I let her believe I’ve been tamed.
She must love you. I understand you have pups of your own.
“Aye.” Scruffy stuck out his chest. “They’re fine little lads and lassies. One of them, Scout, has huge paws for a little pup, but he’ll grow into them. No doubt, he’ll be bigger than his father.” He cocked his head. “My pups aren’t nearly as much trouble as Ariel and Caden’s. I don’t envy them their helpless offspring, they have to keep them around for years.
Is there anything else you’d like to say about Highland Yearning while you have the chance?
Scruffy’s eyebrows raised, and his liquid brown eyes twinkled. “I like what you did with our story. Now, will you write me back to the Highlands? My family’s waiting.
Highland Taming
By Dawn Ireland
Caden Mackay would never bed a Sutherland, let alone marry one. Bloody hell, what had possessed his twin brother to propose to one of the she-devils? And what is Caden to do with the Sutherland beauty who appears, as if by magic, in his library? The defiant intruder is the enemy, but she is unlike any woman Caden’s ever known, and her tantalizing curves and wide green eyes could tempt a monk. He must devise a way to stop the wedding. But can he stop the desire that makes him long to make Ariel Sutherland his own?
Ariel’s life had never gone the way she’d hoped, but ending up in eighteenth century Scotland was a stretch, even for her. If not for her dog, Scruffy, she might have thought she’d walked into a romantic daydream. Especially since the object of her desire appears to be entirely too virile. But can she find her way back to her time, before her too-handsome Highlander makes her believe that love can conquer in any century?
Want to read more? Check out Dawn’s book on Amazon.
About the Author:
“Once Upon a Time” are four of Dawn’s favorite words, because she never knows where they will lead. She writes stories to remind herself that even though things may seem bleak, there is always the possibility of a “Happily Ever After.” If along the way she makes readers smile, cry or see the magic in their everyday lives, then she’s done her job.
Dawn’s written several award-winning novels set in Georgian England and the Highlands – an era filled with rules and intrigue. Her characters often defy “Society” as they pursue love, run away, pursue, run away – well, you get the idea.
Then again, she might write romance in order to do the research. What other profession encourages you to sit in the audience at Harlequin’s Male Model search, and take notes, or just sigh?
When she’s not writing, Dawn may be found singing, gardening, learning to play the harp or wood carving. She lives in a Victorian home in Upstate New York with her husband and very independent cats.
Dawn hopes you’ll read her books, and together you’ll bring to life characters that aren’t perfect, but have a story to tell.
Social Media Links
http://www.authordawnireland.wordpress.com/
http://www.smpauthors.wordpress.com/
www.Twitter.com/AuthorDIreland
www.Facebook.com/DawnIrelandAuthor
http://www.writeblogconnect.wordpress.com/
Warning to readers of sweet and inspirational romance: This book may contain language and sensual situations.
Today Wednesday Writers welcomes historical author Madelyn Hill. Madelyn will be talking about researching for historical details, specifically related to how she researched for the second book in her Wild Thistle Trilogy, Highland Faith. Welcome, Madelyn!
Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she’d sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a “closet” writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn’t be happier! A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children’s sporting events, and of course reading!